"It's over. I broke up with him," Bristol Palin told People Magazine. Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin told the magazine her daughter has learned a valuable lesson: "to trust but verify."

Last month, Bristol and Johnston became reengaged without first informing Sarah Palin.

At the time, the Palin family issued a statement that stopped short of a full-throated endorsement.

And in her statement to People Magazine published Tuesday, Sarah Palin made her wishes for Bristol known.

"I wish for Bristol to be able to move forward in life with her same forgiving, gracious, optimistic spirit, but from henceforth she'll know to trust but verify. Bristol is strong, she is independent, and she knows what is right for her son," the former vice presidential candidate said.

And as for the reasons, Bristol told People that a trip to Hollywood was the final straw.

"The final straw was him flying to Hollywood for what he told me was to see some hunting show but come to find out it was that music video mocking my family," she said. "He's just obsessed with the limelight and I got played."

In what the magazine calls an emotional interview, Bristol said "There's been no remorse," and that she has only seen Levi once in the past three weeks.

Their teenage relationship fell under an intense public spotlight after Sen. John McCain picked Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate in August 2008. The couple broke off their first engagement about two months after their son's birth in December 2008.

After they broke up, Johnston posed in Playgirl Magazine and said on "The Tyra Banks Show" that they had been allowed to live together, a charge the Palin camp denied.

Johnston irked Sarah Palin last fall by claiming that she referred to her infant son Trig, who has Down syndrome, as "retarded." According to Us Weekly, she fired back, telling reporters that anyone who posed for Playgirl would "say and do anything for even more attention." Later, during an interview with Oprah Winfrey, she called his "aspiring porn" career "heartbreaking."

During a nasty custody battle last year, Johnston asked that the case be conducted in public to protect him from Sarah Palin, whom he said was "powerful, politically ambitious and has a reputation for being extremely vindictive."

Bristol Palin said in the custody hearing that Johnston wanted a public case so he could "continue to make a spectacle of this custody dispute for his own self-promotion."

Bristol Palin asked that the paternal grandmother be barred from having any unsupervised visitation with Tripp. Her petition said she "may re-offend, keep medications around the house which could be accessible to the baby, have illegal drug users come to the house (or she could take the baby in her car during a drug sale)."

Johnston's response said his mother's "chronic pain condition is currently being managed in coordination with the Department of Corrections."

On July 7, Johnston publicly apologized to the Palin family in a statement to People Magazine, saying some of his comments about the family were not totally true.

"Last year, after Bristol and I broke up, I was unhappy and a little angry. Unfortunately, against my better judgment, I publicly said things about the Palins that were not completely true," Johnston told People. "I have already privately apologized to Todd and Sarah. Since my statements were public, I owe it to the Palins to publicly apologize."

soundoff(302 Responses)

MLA

Sounds to me Sarah Palin has alot of work to do in her own household instead of accusing President Obama of having "no cojones". Cojones (or lack of) apparently are the least of her worries. Sarah needs to get her own house in order before she has another teenage daughter knocked up by her town's Levi counterpart.

August 3, 2010 06:53 pm at 6:53 pm |

DENNA

That's too bad. I hope they Bristol, Levi and their child find some happiness somehow.

August 3, 2010 06:54 pm at 6:54 pm |

Remi

Levi was looking for an easier life and she got wise.

August 3, 2010 06:54 pm at 6:54 pm |

Newt

It is unfortunate that Bristol Palin grew up without parents. Parents don't let their child continue on a disastrous path. The entire group are trash money whores who will do and say anything for money. Impressive "family values" that Bristol learned. I would be ashamed that my child was like this but I am sure that Momma Grizzly is proud of her trash child. After all, she is staying in the media spotlight and picking up money for it. A normal person would be embarrassed that they are such a screw up.

August 3, 2010 06:54 pm at 6:54 pm |

StevenSTL

Hasn't the Palin family heard of keeping family matters private?

It seems every time their poor daughter and her "baby daddy" have a relationship issue the Palin family turns it into a PR opportunity by issuing a statement to the press.

Sarah Palin needs to close her big mouth and let her daughter figure out her own life.

August 3, 2010 06:55 pm at 6:55 pm |

Walter

Please, CNN – credible news? What about them spending all weekend talking about Chelsea Clinton's wedding – when they weren't even there!!

August 3, 2010 06:55 pm at 6:55 pm |

Wake Up

This not anyones' business except Bristol and Levi. The Palins can look forward to more drama with their children because they are never home to parent the children like normal people. Education and religious education definitely not a priority in that family. Stay home Sarah.......the kids need a normal life. Money cannot buy happiness.

August 3, 2010 06:56 pm at 6:56 pm |

DENNA

Maybe if Sarah would shut her pie hole this child could find some happiness. Poor Levi is probably really nice, but Sarah seems to bring out the worst instincts in anyone.

August 3, 2010 06:57 pm at 6:57 pm |

Fuyuko

She is too young. They both are. they need college and a career first. Plus- the guy is totally immature. Anyone who would make a video mocking his bride-to-be's family is a cheesy tool. Discretion is the sign of a mature adult. he is not.

August 3, 2010 06:57 pm at 6:57 pm |

Donnatella

umm CNN seems to have left out the part about Levi knocking up another girl, seems like he may be somebody baby daddy and it ain't Bristol. Levi needs to start using birth control you think he would of learned his lesson with Bristol, I can't stand her mother, but I'm glad Bristol is not marrying this loser.

August 3, 2010 06:57 pm at 6:57 pm |

Erich

Can someone explain to me why this is on CNN? CNN should be ashamed of themselves for reporting on this nonsense. Who gives a shit about this white trash family and what they are doing anymore? All McCain did by nominating her as a VP candidate was hand the family a retirement package.

August 3, 2010 06:59 pm at 6:59 pm |

Jason

Wow..so these two just got back together and sucked up more publicity and cash im sure then broke up and sucked up some more publicity and i expect even morecash....any connection here..lowest form of freakin life these people...they give media whores a bad name

August 3, 2010 07:00 pm at 7:00 pm |

Montello

What's the surprise? Her mother can't stick with anything (like the governorship), either.

August 3, 2010 07:00 pm at 7:00 pm |

sandrakae

Levi did not knock anyone else up. That is merely a rumor. The girl involved said he is not the father. She hasn't dated him since the 9th grade. Bristol is caving into pressure from her shrew of a mother.

August 3, 2010 07:01 pm at 7:01 pm |

JohnDubya

Wow what a shocker! Fascinating thrill ride! That "Lamestream" media with the gotcha journalism is to blame... Here's my problem with the focus on this stupid, stupid girl. She, like her mother doesn't put emphasis on fancy book learning and only preaching abstinence. Why doesn't she go to college? She has no job skills and only job is to take stage and hold that other baby. How's that working hopey changey thing working out for you? Hopey that she can stay on mama grizzley coat tails...

August 3, 2010 07:01 pm at 7:01 pm |

Californian

This is easy. When Bristol (who loves the spotlight) and Levi (who can't live without it) didn't get the reality show they wanted of course they broke off their engagement. Can you guess which future mother-in-law made sure there would be no show? Oh, that's too easy. Does any of them have the intelligence to come up with something feasible and interesting? Not a chance.

August 3, 2010 07:02 pm at 7:02 pm |

briah

Why is this political news?

August 3, 2010 07:03 pm at 7:03 pm |

Steven

If only John McCain had had integrity enough to dump Sarah from the ticket after her repeated missteps made it clear she was unfit, she long since would have dropped out of the limelight. Bravo to Bristol for dumping Levi for being obsessed with the limelight. Now do the country a favor and convince your mother to disappear as well.

Just more political foder for the next campaign – Levi is still doing all of us a favor by embarrassing this family. BTW – where is Todd? Where are his cojones ???

August 3, 2010 07:06 pm at 7:06 pm |

Dex in Tex

if I've said it once I've said it a thousand times, "We live in the Age of Jerry Springer!" Thank you Bristol and whatever that guys name is for proving my point!
What an absolute joke....

August 3, 2010 07:06 pm at 7:06 pm |

Kim

Someone please call Jerry Springer.

August 3, 2010 07:07 pm at 7:07 pm |

Peggy

I think all these remarks are just unbelievable. Maybe it's because you can't look yourselves in the mirror. The Palin family is real, they don't put on aires for anyone. They are just who they are.....fine, upstanding Christians. Not perfect, just forgiven. Bristol is young and loves her son.

August 3, 2010 07:07 pm at 7:07 pm |

Greg in Colorado

Just like her mother. The two really should think about teaming up for a show or something.

August 3, 2010 07:07 pm at 7:07 pm |

PaulC

Do you see a family pattern here?
Maybe she'll be the next Senator from Alaska.